cold weather patch lube

[berickson]

i was out today on a late season muzzle loader hunt and i shot off yesterdays load at a fence post cuz i was worried about condensation. i missed.
so i reloaded from my T/C speed loader and the T/C prelube patch was frozen solid. i had an H of a time getting the ball/patch down so i figure the patch was frozen in the barrel too and didn't lube the fouling. i also think the ball went out ahead of the patch ... ergo a miss.
at the end of the day i shot off the reload and it too was a miss.
so what does everyone do for a cold weather patch lube.
it was only about -14 degrees ... -20 at most.
thx

 

[roundball]

:imo:, it seems to me that the raging fire under the patched ball would instantaneously melt patch lube before the ball even started moving, so I'm not sure about it being frozen in the barrel causing the miss;

Carrying speedloaders in an inside pocket close to the warmth of your body would eliminate any worries about frozen patch lube in them.

:m2c:

 

[RussB]

Geeez Ironhead...."it was only about -14 degrees ... -20 at most". ::

Ya ain't supposed to be spearamintin with lube in that kind of weather anywho! Yer rifle gun will freeze up tighter than a ducks butt...I ain't one bit surprised at things being froze. I've always thought that Lehigh and Moose Milk with alcohol would be the ticket if I were ever in that cold of weather.
I would suspect any of the "heavy" lubes with a carrier base, ie, bees wax, bore-butter, or whatever, to be more apt to freeze than a liquid base lube, or a dry lube.

This is pure speculation on my part, because my guns are usually pretty warm when it's -15 or -20 outside...because they are going to be with me by the fire place. :huh:

Russ

 

[berickson]

russb:
say what?? you want me to sit out our summer?? :: :shocking:
dry lube? that could be the ticket.
i was wondering about ethyl glycol anti freeze (in a small amount)to keep the lube soft.
gotta get this figured out cuz the COLD weather's gonna be here soon.

 

[jrdavis]

i was wondering about ethyl glycol anti freeze (in a small amount)to keep the lube soft.
gotta get this figured out cuz the COLD weather's gonna be here soon.

you use that to clean the bore cut 50/50 with well water!

 

[RussB]

russb:
say what?? you want me to sit out our summer?? :: :shocking:
dry lube? that could be the ticket.
i was wondering about ethyl glycol anti freeze (in a small amount)to keep the lube soft.
gotta get this figured out cuz the COLD weather's gonna be here soon.

Where ya frum hornhead? Gotta be somewhere in Alaska if this is your summer.

Truth of the matter is I envy you!

I have held a life long desire to live in Alaska. I've been there a few times but never more than a few days...just enough to whet my appetite.

My "cold weather" lube, if such can be said...consists of Moose Milk with rubbing alcohol replacing the water. I have never had a problem with it, but at the same time I'm quite sure I've never shot, or hunted, in the temperatures you describe. When it gets down toward the big "0", I'm usually looking for a warmer place.

A couple of years back I spent about five days Elk hunting when the temperature was in the teens at night, and the mid 20's during the day, and I never experienced any problem that I recall. Other than the two shots that were fired at the Elk, I think only one other shot was fired, and that was at a grouse going in to camp. I'm quite sure I was using Lehigh Lube at the time as I've always been a fan of the stuff.

Russ

 

[berickson]

my reply was just a LITTLE tongue in cheek. :winking:
i'm from Calgary. could you tell me a bit about lehigh lube?
i'm actually out in the big chill quite a bit chasing jack rabbits, snow shoes etc.
thx

ps- actually some parts of alaska are warmer than here cuz of some gulf current.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Step right up to the back of the wagon. That's right, crowd in folks. Ye say ye want to remain limp at all temperatures? Ye say ye want just as firm at 100

 

[pepperbelly]

You could just come down to Texas for a visit. We got down to 48 last night and about 70 today. Forecast is the same for the next week.
Jim

 

[RussB]

Step right up to the back of the wagon. That's right, crowd in folks. Ye say ye want to remain limp at all temperatures? Ye say ye want just as firm at 100

 

[Rat]

What is Murphy's oil soap??

Rat

 

[Stumpkiller]

This gentle, natural cleaner is ideal for mopping wood floors, paneling and other large wood surfaces. Also effective on formica, vinyl, painted walls and other hard surfaces. Leaves a fresh, clean scent. Two ounces makes one gallon of ready-to-use formula.

Potassium Hydroxide, vegetable oils and tall fats, oleic acid, water (in no particular order).

It's a vegetable-oil based soft soap & detergent.

Murphy's Oil Soap MSDS

 

[berickson]

i've entered this post on some other boards. the one name that kept popping up was lehigh lube. gonna get some from october country and i'll let you know how it holds up in these brisk alberta temperatures. the biggest problem is october country has some beauty shooting bags so this could be expensive. ah well ... someone has to keep the economy rolling ... right?

 

I have used ordinary Baby oil for -56 temps hunting moose in December, Dawson Creek country, but it doens' soften the fouling very well in small bores(under .69). -56C is about minus 60F, I'd think. In Alberta, -14 to -20 is around the 0F mark.
: I just recently bought some LeHigh lube from Track of the Wolf for cold weather testing and have also used Stumpy's Moose Snot down around -5 with perfect results. In the 15 cu. ft. Deep-Freeze, it doesn't freeze solid, just a bit stiffer than in the can. I think it'll work down to -20C just fine.(Stumpy's Moose Snot, that is)castor oil, beeswax, murphy's oil soap.
: You cold also use straight Castor Oil- but test it first for accuracy.
: You're right, with bore butter, at freezxing temps, the flame doesn't melt the frozen patch - but spits the ball out ahead of it. Sometimes when loading, the bore butter frozen patch becomes stuck in the barrel, and you punch the ball through it, then have to push the patch down on top of the powder&ball to prevent the ball from running over it and ringing the barrel on it's way out.
: Hunting with a muzzleloader in really cold weather stinks somewhat. There is lots more to go wrong or cause problems.

 

[Billy Boy]

It was 24 degrees below zero here yesterday, have’nt seen a brass monkey in weeks....Test all of your possible lubes by lubing up a patch with each type lube and putting them in your freezer overnight. You will quickly see which one you want to use. Mink oil from TOW is about the best I have found for use at this latitude

 

[azmntman]

Agree. BUT...with the ignition/explosion of powder would not most lubes thaw out right quick? Dont know, never had the need to hunt anywhere near below zero myself. I guess a range test (done by someone much more manly than me) would have to be done in those conditions. I will wait here for results. anybody???? Brownbear???

 

[rusticbob]

I use the Dutch method here in Vermont. Our muzzleloader season is in December, and it can get cold. If you are shooting roundball, you should give his system a try.
I can consistently get 3-4 inch groups at 50 yards from the bench, even in the winter. That's about all I can expect from open sights anymore. Before I started using the "Dutch" system, this same gun would scatter roundballs all over the paper. Good luck!

 

[Okie Hog]

Carrying speedloaders in an inside pocket close to the warmth of your body would eliminate any worries about frozen patch lube in them.

Works for me too.

 

[Rifleman1776]

:imo:, it seems to me that the raging fire under the patched ball would instantaneously melt patch lube before the ball even started moving, so I'm not sure about it being frozen in the barrel causing the miss;

Carrying speedloaders in an inside pocket close to the warmth of your body would eliminate any worries about frozen patch lube in them.

:m2c:

Agree completely with Roundball. Plus, even frozen a natural lube, like beeswax will lube some going down.

 

[S.Kenton]

You guys realize as intersting as this thread is/was its nearly 15 years old?